BA Accounting and Business – The Flying Start Degree Programme

Compulsory modules

Assurance, Governance and Ethics

For those planning a career in accounting, this module offers a practical and commercial focus. You'll gain an understanding of the assurance process – specifically, the assessment of internal controls and gathering of evidence on an assurance engagement. The basic principles of professional ethics will also be explored.

Management Information

Explore the techniques, principles and underlying concepts relating to the analysis of management information – including the examination of costs, revenues and profits. You'll gain experience of the approaches used in today’s businesses and understand how they fit together to provide an overview of a business’s performance.

Principles of Taxation

Examine the UK's tax system and the ethical issues related to tax advisory work. Gain an understanding of the objectives of taxation and how to calculate income tax, National Insurance contributions, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and VAT in given scenarios. You'll also consider the regulatory frameworks surrounding tax work, and gain relevant practical knowledge for running a business.

Introduction to Business

Explore a variety of international businesses, their stakeholders, and the environments in which they operate. You'll study key business concepts, theories and models, enabling you to understand and analyse contemporary businesses. The use of case studies, and a focus on current events in the business world, will ensure that you develop commercial awareness.

Introduction to Accounting

Develop a sound understanding of the techniques of double-entry bookkeeping, and learn how to apply its principles in recording accounting transactions, adjusting financial records, and preparing non-complex financial statements.

Law and Business

Gain an understanding of the principles of English law that are relevant in a commercial context, and particularly those relevant to accountancy qualifications. The content of this module aligns with the requirements for professional accreditation.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Audit and Assurance

Gain an understanding of the critical aspects of managing assurance and audit engagements. You'll examine current issues facing the audit profession, the legal frameworks and ethical principles that auditors must be aware of, the identification of key assurance risks and procedures, and reporting on assurance engagements.

Financial Accounting

Study the various International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), along with the related accounting concepts you'll need to understand in order to prepare single entity and consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Work Placement 1

Develop personal and professional skills with an accounting work placement. Put the theory that you've learnt in the classroom into practice and gain technical work experience approved by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).

Business Strategy for Accountants

Gain an understanding of business strategy, with particular emphasis on how an organisation's activities relate to the strategic, competitive and environmental contexts in which they operate. Develop the ability to analyse an organisation and its environment, examine its performance from a financial and a non-financial perspective, and evaluate the likely consequences of its strategic choices.

Tax Compliance

Gain the ability to prepare tax computations and provide tax advice to individuals and companies in a wide range of scenarios, along with the knowledge to explain the ethical issues surrounding tax advice. Learn aspects of the UK tax system that are relevant to professional accountants, and gain practical knowledge in providing tax advice.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they're informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Accounting Work Placement 2

Develop personal and professional skills with an accounting work placement. Put the theory that you've learnt in the classroom into practice and gain technical work experience approved by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).

Financial Management

Focus on the key factors considered in corporate financial management decision making, in terms of working capital management, sources of long-term finance, dividend policies and risk management. Develop the knowledge to understand and evaluate the financial decisions made by a variety of stakeholders.

Financial Accounting and Reporting

Explore some of the more advanced International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including leases, foreign exchange, and financial instruments. You'll learn how to prepare single entity and consolidated financial statements, including accounting for associates and joint ventures, and the disposal of subsidiaries.

Business Planning: Tax

Study more advanced aspects of the UK tax system and gain practical knowledge for running a business. By the end of the module, you'll be able to apply technical knowledge and professional judgement to identify, explain and evaluate alternative tax treatments, to resolve issues that arise in the preparation of tax computations, and to advise on tax-efficient strategies for businesses and individuals.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they're informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Compulsory modules

Accounting Work Placement 3

Develop personal and professional skills with an accounting work placement. Put the theory that you've learnt in the classroom into practice and gain technical work experience approved by the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).

Business and Professional Ethics

Examine the moral norms of international accounting, investment and financial management. Within the business world, the overwhelming preoccupation with money and profit introduce a variety of conflicting moral pressures. Using real-world scenarios, you'll explore the ethical questions raised and develop the analytical, reflexive and decision-making skills to tackle a range of moral issues.

Business Analysis

Develop knowledge and skills in financial reporting, management accounting and business finance – and learn how to apply them to real-world business problems and case studies.

Contemporary Issues in Accounting

Gain knowledge, understanding and critical appreciation of the issues facing the accountancy profession. You'll explore the theoretical and empirical evidence relating to a range of topical issues.

Business Essentials: Turning Strategy into Results

Develop vital knowledge and skills in a range of business areas, including leadership and human resource management, marketing, operations management, sustainability reporting, digital systems and structure, and configuring organisations. You'll explore these topics using real-world business problems and case studies.

These are the modules that we currently offer for 2024/25 entry. They may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they're informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.